Budget Vote Speech Delivered by the Honourable MEC: Social Development, Ms. L.P. Mahasa to the Free State Provincial Legislature
Honourable Speaker Honourable Deputy Speaker Honourable Premier
Members of the Executive Council Members of the Free State Legislature Executive Mayors and Mayors
Leadership of the ANC and the alliance partners The Director General and the Heads of Departments Delegation of the National Lotteries Commission The Regional Managers of SASSA and NDA
Members of civil society organizations who are our partners Leadership from various sectors of our communities Distinguished guests
All our valued clients and fellow residents of the Free State province
Madam Speaker permit me to steal this moment before tabling my budget vote and give an overview of challenges depicting a reality faced by the majority of our people. These situations are unfortunately familiar to many in the trenches of poverty, yet a true reflection of our situational condition.
The ANC has tried and continues to put its shoulder on the wheel of desirable change, to alter and reverse the inhumane conditions of our people, inherited from apartheid era. Yet Madam Speaker, when we transverse the width and breadth of this province, we cannot confirm the cancerous impact of poverty that our people continue to be exposed to. We in the Department of Social Department are at the coal face of poverty affliction, we witness its scars and wounds inflicted on our people on a daily basis.
Madam Speaker.
For the Department, where shame and indignity is the order of day and our officials have to deal with these inhumane situations on daily basis like;
Children facing death due to starvation,
the sick and frail confront death as a certainty,
the indigent puddle in the mud to survive a day,
the destitute extending a trembling scrawny hand for a slice of stale bread,
the infected queuing in the sweltering heat,
the old frozen to their bone marrow,
We do not weep or bow under the weight of this misery as we come across these situations, we swallow our tears, grit our teeth and seek solutions that will offer hope to the destitute.
Ke yona Social Development he eo. Re qhafutsa diretseng ho hlwibila chaba sabo rona ka hare ho mathata a bakilweng ke ho se lekalekane ha nako e fetileng ya Apartheid, re ikakgela ka setotswana ho bona hore maphelo a batho a ntlafatswa ka hohle-hohle. Budget ya tsatsi la kajeno ke bopaki ba hore re ya hlasela re le Foreistata ho fetola maphelo a batho.
In his January 08, 2017 Statement, President Jacob Zuma declared 2017 the year we will be celebrating one of the greatest leaders of the African National Congress, Oliver Reginald Tambo. President Tambo is one of the icons and legends who sacrificed his life for the people of Africa and South Africa, in particular, for the cause of human justice, peace, respect for human life and a dignified life for all.
This, he did without prejudice in terms of race, gender, age disability nor material possessions.
OR, as we fondly know him, and recalling his famous address to Georgetown University on January 27, 1987, declared and had this to say:
I quote “We seek to create a united Democratic and non-racial society. We have a vision of South Africa in which black and white shall live and work together as equals in conditions of peace and prosperity. Using the power, you derive from the discovery of the truth about racism in South Africa, you will help us to remake our part of the world into a corner of the globe on which all -- of which all of humanity can be proud."
Ke nahana hore ho nepahetse Motsamaisi wa Dipuisano ho nehelana ka puo ena ya ditekanyetso kgweding ena ya Ditokelo tsa Botho, e leng Hlakubele. Sena se pakahatsa hore toro eo Ntate Tambo a bileng le yona e ntse e phela, mme re e hlompha ka ho behella ka thoko chelete tse itseng ho ntlafatsa maphelo a batho le ho sebetsa ka matla ho ntlafatsa seriti sa bona.
This reminds us of the real reasons that made leaders like OR and many others to dedicate their lives to the struggle.
Central to the struggle for liberation was the quest for all of our peoples to live a life of dignity, a fulfilled life and the ability to explore one’s potential to the fullest. In other words, to contribute to one’s ability to the prosperity of humanity. To be part of a meaningful existence.
There is no better way that today’s government could achieve this without the existence of Social Development. Baheso, Lefapha la Ntshetso-pele ya Sechaba ke ke la bohlokwahadi mme lebapala karolo e ikgethileng bakeng sa tswellopele ya naha ya rona le sechaba sa rona.
Poverty alleviation through Social Grants
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) continues to combat poverty by expanding access to social grants on a daily basis through outreach programs and taking applications of all eligible people. A total number of 9 hundred and 86 thousand 237 (986 237) needy people in Free State are benefiting from social grants. SASSA paid a total of over 680 million rand per month, amounting to over 8 billion rand per year. The number of people benefiting constitutes 36% of the Free State population.
Since 1994 to date, access and growth on social grants increased tenfold from 90 thousand to 900 thousand beneficiaries.
Social relief of distress
A budget of R35 million was allocated for Social Relief of Distress for 2016/17. This brought much needed relief to 30 thousand needy households in the Free State Province. The main objective of this social relief is to target the poorest of the poor, most vulnerable and destitute people such as child headed households. Those vulnerable included about 3 thousand malnourished children who benefitted from the zero-hunger project and about 5 thousand learners who also benefitted from the school uniform project.
Service delivery and infrastructure improvement
SASSA is making efforts to increase access to social grants by expanding its footprint and office infrastructure. During 2016, SASSA opened new office in Winburg, Vrede, Tweespruit, and Frankfort. Another office will be opened at Hertzogville in 2017. In order to alleviate long queues and provide a dignified service under shelter, SASSA also invested R7 million to build ten (10) steel structures to serve as social grants pay points and community infrastructure in Thaba Nchu and QwaQwa.
Fighting fraud and corruption
Many of our people are coming from the poorest background and the grants are intended to assist by providing the basic needs. We have witnessed corruption and fraud targeting the beneficiaries through unlawful deductions from their grants. SASSA is currently dealing with 631 complaints to fight this corruption and fraud. SASSA further conducts ongoing media campaigns through newspaper adverts and radio interviews to educate and warn grants recipients against fraud, misuse of social grants, as well as unlawful deductions and loans by unscrupulous money lenders.
Additional to our Poverty Alleviation Programme through SASSA, the Department has five key Programmes which are based on our Budget Structure. Our Budget Vote for 2017/2018 will therefore focus on the following Programmes and will articulate our achievements as well as our investment towards ensuring a world in which all of humanity can be proud of.
Programme 1: Administration
Honourable Speaker, this programme captures the strategic management and support services at all levels of the Department. Re behelletse ka thoko 250 million rand (R250 997 000) selemong sena sa dichelete bakeng sa Program1 Programme
Tse ka sehlohong ke tse latelang:
Ho ntlafatsa tshebetso le ho etsa bonnete ba hore maphelo a batho a fetowa ka theho ya mesebetsi, re tlo hira Basebeletsi Ba Setjhaba ba leshome (10).
Lefapha le ntse le lemocheng wa ho tlatsa dikgeo tsa di-poso tse neng diphahlaladitswe.
Programme 2: Social welfare services
Honourable Speaker, the intention of this Programme is to provide integrated developmental social welfare services to the poor and vulnerable in partnership with stakeholders and civil society organizations. The Department has allocated an amount of 201 million rand for Programme 2.
The first democratically elected President of the Republic and one of our Icons in the fight for Human Rights, when he addressed a junior wheelchair championship in 1995, President Nelson Mandela said and I quote:
“The new South Africa we are building should be accessible and open to everyone. We must see to it that we remove the obstacles, whether they stem from poor access to facilities; poor education; lack of transport; lack of funding or unavailability of equipment. Only then will the rights of disabled to equal opportunities become a reality.”
In his article to the Mail and Guardian on 21 October 2016, the retired Judge Albie Sachs reiterated that, and I quote “ANC leader Oliver Tambo insisted that all people's rights in workers, women, children, the disabled and the poor were respected”.
Once more, the great OR has been instrumental in ensuring that Persons with Disabilities should be accorded the same rights as any other person.
Honourable Premier, ho hlakile ho rona hore ditshebeletso tse lokelang ho fuwa batho ba rona ba nang le boqhwala, hase phethahatso ya molao fela, empa ke tokafatso ya ntlha tsa motheo le ho hlompa ditokelo tsa motheo tsa botho.
Services to Persons with Disabilities are guided by respective policies and lately by the White Paper on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities.
We have prioritized Albinism as one of our apex projects for Persons with Disabilities. These are part of the most discriminated against and also needs capacity on their self-esteem. Selemong se fetileng sa 2016, lefapha tlasa boetapele ba Mme Sisi Ntombela ba ile ba etsa hlokomediso ka kwedi ya batho ba nang le bosofe e leng September.
To date about 400 people with Albinism have been identified in the Free State Province and we will again implement a capacity building workshop for them in September 2017.
The province hosted the Disability Summit from the 2nd to the 3rd of December 2016 at Parys Town Hall. The main objective was the development of an implementation plan of the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities with responsibilities identified for all stakeholders. The resolutions of this Summit will be addressed by the Department through a week long programme with other Departments during Disability month from 03 November to 03 December 2017.
Lefapha le tswella ho fumana tshehetso ho tswa ho Japan International Cooperation Agency bakeng sa ho etsa di fuputso mabapi le ditshebeletso tsa batho ba nang le boqhwala le ho thusa tsedig tsa dibaka tse sebeletsang batho ba nang le boqhwala jwalo ka: Qwaqwa Protective Workshop, Leratong Child and Youth Care Centre le Ipopeng Centre for care of children with Disabilities. Projeke eo ya dithuso tsa Japan e tla qala ka November 2017.
Re behelletse ka thoko chelete e kana ka 45, 6 million rand bakeng sa ditshebelletso tsa batho ba nang le boqhwala.
The population statistics and the mid-term report of 2015 has shown growth in the ageing population. Out of the total population of 54 million 956 thousand, 4 million
419 thousand, which is 8% are older persons. This therefore reveals that the demand of the services for Older Persons has also increased.
Ha esale ho tloha ka selemo sa 2014, mmuso wa Freystata o atlehile ho etsa hore maqheku a kang bang 420 a nke karolo dipapading tsa maqheku, mme Profinsi haesale e emelwa ka bokgabane ke maqheku a lehae boemong ba naha.
Ho tloha selemong sena sa 2017, dipapadi tsena di tla qala ho tloha boemong ba selehae mme re tla sebedisana le di-masepala tsa rona ho bona hore maqheku a rona a nka karolo dipapading mme ho hlwauwe ho ya boemong bo ka hodimo ho ya ka tshebeletso le bokgoni ba bona. Re hopoleng hore re lokela ho etsa bonnete ba hore October re se re qetile ho kgetha sehlopa se tla emela boemong ba naha.
Re behile ka thoko 109 million rand sebakeng sa ditshebeletso tse fuwang maqheku.
Social Behavior Change Programmes
This is mainly an Empowerment Programme that strengthens and supports vulnerable young women’s capacity to deal with issues of teenage Pregnancy, HIV Infections, Poverty, Sex Work and the notorious “Blesser” phenomenon.
We will implement this empowerment programme with focus on girls from 10 to 14 years and young women from 15 to 24 years. The programme will be implemented through NPO’s whose capacity will be improved for services delivery. Community Care Givers within NPO’s are to be utilized and strengthened on issues of psychosocial support, social behavior change and child protection and on all other services that need to be provided to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC).
We have 33, 7 million rand budgeted for this sub-programme on HIV and AIDS.
Programme 3: Children and Families
OR once quipped and I quote, “The children of any nation are its future. A country, a movement, a person that does not value its youth and children does not deserve its future”. To heed OR’s call and demonstrate how much we, as the ANC and the Department of Social Development, value our children, have earmarked an amount of 447 million rand to render services to children and families. This programme intends to provide comprehensive child and family care and support services to communities in partnership with stakeholders and civil society organizations.
Motsamaisi wa Dipuisano,
Enna ke tshebeletso e haufi le pelo yaka hoba re bua ka bokamoso ba naha jwalo ka Ntate OR a buile. Ke tlabe ke fositse haholo ha nka se buwe ka dikatleho tsa lefapha mabali le tshebelletso ena.
Early Childhood Development
Our aim here is to provide a comprehensive Early Childhood Development (ECD) service and increase access.
In 2016/2017 we were able to increase the stipends of the ECD Practitioners from 1 thousand two hundred rand (R1 200) to 1 thousand seven hundred and fifty one rand (R1 751) and that of the matrons from 1 thousand five hundred rand (R1 500) to 1 thousand seven hundred and fifty one rand (R1 751).
We also increased financial support from 261 to 264 day and this was based on the ECD Sectoral Determination.
We are currently providing financial support to 48 thousand (48 396) children at R15 per child per day.
For 2017/2018 an allocation of 7 million rand through the ECD maintenance grant has been set aside. These funds will be utilized for the maintenance of seventy nine
(79) conditionally registered ECD facilities but also other conditionally registered ECDs to elevate them to full registration status. Ladies and gentlemen, I must emphasize that these ECD centers must be registered NPOs to qualify for the ECD maintenance grant.
I must also add that in terms of section 8.2.2 of the ECD policy, the grant does not apply to private homes, business properties or properties not owned by NPOs.
Motsamaisi wa Dipuisano, ke motlotlo ho hlalosetsa ntlo ena hore re lo aha crèche tse pedi mane Vogelfontein and Botshabelo selemong sena sa dichelete.
For 2017/2018, we have set aside 8 million rand (R8 309 000) for the expansion of the subsidy to children on ECD.
This implies that 2 thousand and ninety eight (2 098) additional children will benefit from the ECD subsidy and a new total of 50 thousand four hundred and ninety four (50 494) children will benefit.
Isibindi Model
The Minister for Social Development launched the Isibindi model in 2010. The programme provides community-based care and support services to orphaned and vulnerable children in rural communities. But importantly, this project also serves as a platform to fight unemployment through a formal training for a qualification on Child and Youth Care and creates employment opportunities for the youth as they are paid a stipend whilst they are busy with training.
The Department has implemented Isibindi since 2013 and we increased the number of Child and Youth Care Workers trained on the model from 183 to 429 over a period of 3 years.
114 are previous years matriculants who passed Grade 12 from the 16 Isibindi sites across all 5 Districts who were the beneficiaries of child and youth care services through the Isibindi model.
In 2016/2017, 182 youth benefitted through Isibindi.
To strengthen, ensure sustainability and greater impact of the Isibindi Model, we will roll it out in 2017/2018 to 5 areas of the Free State, mainly Xhariep and Fezile Dabi Districts. Through this roll-out, we envisage to provide an accredited training on Child and Youth Care and create, at least, 130 job opportunities.
We have set aside 3, 7 million rand for the 2017/2018 and envisage that a total 5 850 children will benefit over 12 months period.
Child Care and Protection Services
Just as reminder, Child Care and Protection Services are a statutory service carried out in terms of the Children’s Act. The Department continues to raise awareness on child abuse with the main aim of ensuring that there is an increase in the reported cases of child abuse.
Hona ha ho tlo thusa feela tshehetsong eo re e fang bana ba rona, empa ho tlo thusa ho bona hore batlodi ba molao ba fumanwa le ho kenngwa moqulung wa tshirelletso ya bana.
Motsamaisi wa Dipuisano le baahi ba Foreistata, ere ke hlalose hore mahlo a rona a se a ntse a shebile Petrusburg jwalo ka enngwe ya tulo tseo re di beileng sehlohlolong bakeng sa tshebelletso ena. Selemo sa 2016, ho ile ha hlaha ketsahalo e mpe haholo polasing ya tulo ena moo ntate a neng a hlekefetsa bana ba banyane ba dilemo tse ka bang 7.
Lefapha le tlo etsa matsholo tulong ena e le ho ruta sechaba ka kakaretso ka ditokelo tsa bone le hore ke eng seo ba lokelang ho se etsa ha ho se ho hlaile sena.
Bothata bo boholo bo re nang le bona tulong ena le sechabeng ka kakaretso, ke hore ketso tsena di etswa mahlong a sechaba, empa sechaba se ya thola se sa tlalehe.
We also intend to launch the 2017 Provincial Child Protection Week in Petrusburg and this will be aligned to the National theme still to be announced.
Children’s Rights
Re entse boitlamo selemong se fetileng, 2016 hore lefapha le tla matlafatsa matsholo a ho lwanela ditokelo tsa bana. Banana le bashemane ba ka bang 22 ba ile ba nka karolo Palamenteng ya bana mme ba dumellana ka hore:
Mafapha ohle a kenyelletse ditokelo tsa bana mererong ya bona mme a hlophise hore merero ya bana e kenyelletswa ditekanyetsong tsa ona.
Selemong sena le fapha le ikemiseditse ho matlafatsa letsholo la “Adopt a Boy Child” ka ho kenyelletsa banana. Empa ke batla hape ho etsa bonnete hore ba basweu le bona eba karolo ya letsholo lena. Lefapha le bile le lona selemo se fedileng, mme bashemane ba ka bang 16 ba ile ba fumana di tshihetso ka baka la maemo a malapa ao ba tswang ho ona. Dihloho tsa mafapha a fapaneng, ho kenyelletswa le Motsamaisi a ka Sehlohong wa muso Wa Freyistata (DG) e ka site le letona Mme Edna Molewa ba ile ba itlama ka ho tshehetsa ba bang ba bashemane bao.
Le ha leano lena le ne le qala ho kena tshebetsong, le ile laba le ditholwana tse monate mme ha ho ka tsela eo re ka le tlohelang, re lokela ho le matlafatsa hore bana ba ba ngata ba une hotswa ho lona.
Bakeng sa letsholo lena re behelletse ka thoko chelete e kana ka dikete tse 652 tsa diranta.
Programme 4: Restorative Services
Honourable Speaker, under this Programme the Department intends to provide integrated developmental social crime prevention and anti-substance abuse services to the most vulnerable in partnership with stakeholders and civil society organizations. A budget of 131 million rand is available to ensure that we meet our mandate for Restorative Services.
The Department raises the same concerns raised by the communities and government both at National and Provincial levels, that of the escalation of the emergence of new substances/drugs in the market introduced to communities targeting the disadvantaged, vulnerable and the poor. Coupled with this, studies have shown that alcohol abuse remains a preferred substance among all segments of the society irrespective of status, class or race.
The services that we render for Drug and Substance Abuse are also required by law as stipulated in the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act of 2008.
During the State of the Province Address on 21 February 2017, the Honourable Premier said and I quote, “The menace of substance abuse poses a terrible threat to our society and also undermines our developmental and transformation agenda. Through various interventions and working with different stakeholders, we targeted and assisted the youth at the substance abuse treatment centers. We will continue to wage a rigorous campaign against substance abuse in our communities”.
In responding to the above, we will implement various projects for Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse but would like to highlight the following for 2017/2018:
Research and Awareness Campaigns
The Department, through its partnership with South African Breweries, (SAB) will collaborate with the Foundation for Alcohol Related Research (FARR) by conducting research in the Xhariep District, concentrating in Koffiefontein and Jacobsdal. This research will focus on the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders including Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). This will be a comprehensive 3 year community project from 2017 to 2019. We hope that this Research will assist us to develop factual and evidence based intervention Programmes on curbing Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Components of the Project will involve:
Research.
Community awareness interventions using appropriate medium of communication such as theater and training workshops involving as many community members as possible.
Referrals to Departmental Social Workers in Xhariep involving psychosocial problems such as child abuse, neglect and malnutrition which are some of those detected during assessments to be done by FARR nurses and medical specialists.
Establishment of Augustino Netto Treatment Centre in Botshabelo
This Centre will provide treatment and rehabilitation to those who abuse and are dependent on the substance.
This is the first ever state-run treatment facility for substance dependent persons in the Free State. An additional allocation of 14 million rand (R14 273 000) for 2017/18 will be utilized towards the operationalization plans which entail refurbishment, securing necessary equipment and material to be used for operations.
During 2018/19 appropriate staff will be recruited. The center will admit children, youth and adults. It will be a 40 bed facility within the premises of Botshabelo Hospital.
Establishment of Treatment and Rehabilitation Center
The renovation of the Dr. Beyers Naudė Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Clarens has been completed.
This 40 bed capacity facility will resume operations in May 2017.
The center will offer nursing care, counselling, life skills and reintegration and reunification with families and communities.
Honorable Speaker, the Department will spend 55 million rand (R55 022 000) towards addressing Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment.
Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP)
VEP is regulated by two legislative pieces which are Domestic Violence Act of 1998 and the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act of 2005.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is still a matter of concern to learn that despite these legislative pieces, the awareness campaigns and intervention programmes implemented by government, we still have men and women who use violence against their partners and children. We intend to continue with our VEP for 2017/2018 and have prioritized two key projects which are as follows:
Men as partners in the prevention of gender based violence
Strengthening the capacity of Shelters for Victims of Domestic Violence through a training Programme
We are indeed very humbled to announce to the people of the Free State that we will be spending 14 million rand (R14 258 000) on Victim Empowerment and the total allocation for Restorative Services is 131 million rand (R131 992 000).
Programme 5: Development and Research
Motsamaisi wa Dipuisano, Ntshetso Pele ya Bacha e ka sehlohong tabatabellong tsaka le nthong tseo ke batlang ho di fihlella. Ha ke buiswe sena ke hobane ke tswa from the “ranks of Youth Activism”, empa ke ka lebaka la maemo le di nnete tseo re shebaneng le tsona re le sechaba. Nnete tsa hoe:
Bacha ha basebetse
Ba hloka tsebo tse hlokahalang ho ka fumana mesebetsi
Tshebediso empe ya dithethefatsi
Bacha ba nyahame
Bacha ba kene maqulwaneng mme ba etsa ditlolo tsa molao.
Ke ka hoo Motsamaisi wa Dipuisano ke ipiletsang ho Matona ohle le mafapha hore ba bone hore ditekanyetsong tsa bona, ba behelle ka thoko chelete e itseng sebakeng sa ntshetsopele ya bacha.
Honourable Speaker and the young people of the Free State, our intervention on Youth Development prioritizes those young people between 18 and 35 years, who are out of school and coming mainly from rural areas and informal settlements. I need to emphasize that our Programme on Youth Development is molded in an attempt to contribute to the National Youth Policy, 2015 to 2020.
Sanitary Towel Project
This project aims to ensure girls from the poorest backgrounds claim their dignity by ensuring that school children who are not able to go to school because of lack of access to sanitary towels are provided with these. This project will be implemented in Tweeling and will also assist with job creation. The project will be officially launched in June 2017 in Tweeling as one of the key programmes for Youth month.
Social Entrepreneurship
Social entrepreneurship is the attempt to draw upon business techniques and private sector approaches to find solutions to social, cultural, or environmental problems. Social Enterprise traits includes abilities to pursue new opportunities and exploration of hidden resources to serve greater mission. Our initiative on Social Entrepreneurship was implemented in 2015/2016 in partnership with ILO, CUT, SEDA, NYDA and DESTEA. 24 Youth Social Entrepreneurship structures were funded with R1 million in 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 respectively and the total number of jobs which have been created through this model are 39.
We intend to roll-out our Social Entrepreneurship Project because it is efficient and impactful, especially with addressing social problems and job creation.
In 2017/2018, we will assist at least 15 existing or new Youth Social Entrepreneurship structures and an amount of R1 million has been set aside for this initiative. It is with great pleasure for me to appreciate and also announce that our approach in implementing this model will still include our existing partners which are ILO, CUT, SEDA and DESTEA but will further add a new partnership with Grey College, Thunda Fund, Petco, Media 24 and Nedbank. Honourable Speaker, a special word of gratitude to these partners.
Gardening and Sanitization Services
Re tlo sebetsa mmoho le Lefapha la tsa Temo, re tlo kenya tshebetsong leano la massification eo re dumelang hore e kaba karabo bothateng ba ho theha mesebetsi bakeng sa bacha ba sa sebetsing mme e thuse kgatlano le bofuma.
The Department will implement Gardening and Sanitization projects for Departmental Offices and Institutions. Youth will be appointed to provide these services and be paid a stipend based on EPWP rates as per Ministerial determination.
The project will be piloted in Mangaung Metro in 2017/2018 where 72 job opportunities will be created. 836 thousand rand (R836 173) will be spent on this project.
Young Community Developer of the Year Awards
The Department has initiated a project called Young Community Developer of the Year Awards. The thrust of the awards is to promote activism, patriotism and social cohesion amongst the youth by recognizing those youth who have voluntarily contributed in achieving community development. It is therefore important for the Department to identify and award this spirit of selflessness through the Young Community Developer of the Year Awards. In 2016/2017, a total of 87 youth structures entered the Awards for providing voluntary services in the Province. Out of the 87, 9 were recognized, awarded with Certificates and funding with R370 000.
We will again, in partnership with other Departments host these awards in 2017/2018 to recognize our young activists and hope to host our Awards for 2017/2018 in Xhariep District.
Youth Camp
The Youth Camps serve as a platform for Youth mobilization on patriotism and life skills. 100 youth attended the Provincial camp and 83 attended the National camp in 2016/2017. This is a platform where the future leaders are shaped and we have been able to mobilize 288 young people who have been through the youth camps between 2014/2015 and 2016/2017.
We will host the District Camps in June 2017 during the Youth month and the Provincial Youth Camp in October 2017 during the Social Development month.
Honourable Speaker, we will partner with the South African National Defense Force and Inqaba Yokulinda Youth Organization to implement our Provincial Youth Camp. We need strong capacitated organizations for the Youth Camp such as Inqaba Yokulinda Youth Organization since it has demonstrated a deep knowledge of facilitating the Youth Camps. This Organization was the main facilitator for the National Youth Campaign 2016. Our partnership with Inqaba Yokulinda Youth Organization will however extend to include capacity building projects for our funded Youth Development structures focusing on financial literacy, Project Management and Youth Club facilitation.
The total budget we will use for these programmes is from Transfer Payments which is 3 million 6 hundred thousand rand. The overall budget for Youth Development in 2017/2018 is 66 million rand.
Community Development
Community Development is one of the key programmes that are aimed at providing intervention services on poverty and hunger. We have developed and further implemented various initiatives under community development which includes food security, community-based research, support and capacity building to the Non-profit Organization.
Food security, under Community Development is a programme that targets poor households without an income and is implemented through a comprehensive community development approach called Community Nutrition and Development Centre’s (CNDCs). CNDCs have increased from 25 in 2015/16 to 32 in 2016/17. There are also 8 CNDCs funded by the National Department of Social Development, and that brings the total number of CNDCs to 40 in the whole province.
4 thousands, 2 hundred and 39 (4 239) people are benefitting from these Centers and 295 work opportunities were created through this initiative.
As a means to sustain and roll-out these centers, an amount of 8 million rand (R8 364 000) is available as of 01 April 2017 and an additional 5 million 4 hundred thousand rand (R5 400 000) will come from the National Department of Social Development. These funds will be utilized to also establish additional new CNDCs in 2017/18. This will results in 4 new CNDCs, new job opportunities for 86 people and additional 400 people having access to a meal.
Extended Public Works Programme has an allocation of 13 million rand (R13 823 000) for 2017/2018. A total of 4 919 work opportunities were created as on 27 February 2017. For 2017/2018, we intend to create 575 and 5 900 from the EPWP Incentive Grant and EPWP Equitable Share respectively. The beneficiaries will be mainly from the CNDCs, Change Agents identified during Household Profiling, Isibindi Child and Youth Care Workers, and Substance Abuse Coordinators.
In relation to Community Based Research and Planning; and as a contribution towards active citizenry, the Department will facilitate eleven (11) community dialogues as well as development of community based plans, targeting the poorest wards across the Province. These processes will not only foster social cohesion among communities but will also ensure that government supports community initiatives, thus contributing to the fight against the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
The Department will spend R300 000 in this regard from the allocated Budget of 2 million rand (R2 764 000) for Community Based Research.
Speaker, Not-for-Profit Sector is one of our key service delivery stakeholders and we always foster to capacitate the sector for good governance and accountability purposes. The Department engaged the services of KPMG to assist with the development and implementation of the Social Welfare costing and allocation models but also to transform and optimize NPO funding and management processes.
An initiative was introduced in 2016/2017 to promote, support and enhance the capacity of Non Profit Organizations to perform their functions as prescribed by provincial and district consultative forums. For 2017/2018, the Department will continue with its Communication Outreach Programme for NPO`s which assists the Department to provide guidance on issues of reporting, management of Memoranda of Agreements (MOA’s) and Code of Good Governance which has been adopted by
NPO Management Committees. We have an allocation of 422 million rand (R422 993 000) for 2017/18 as subsidies to NPOs and a total of 1580 NPOs will be funded.
Social Development is the custodian of the Population Policy of South Africa. When South Africa became a signatory to the United Nations Development Framework in 1994, it also assumed the responsibility to create awareness of population and development issues. This awareness often takes a form of:
Door to door campaigns Information, education and capacity building programs Workshops, andFormal educational training in population and development
We have identified a need to capacitate our communities, policy makers, planners and community development networks on population dynamics, development and environment. To this extent, we have planned to host a provincial capacity building workshop in partnership with the Department of Education, National Department of Social Development as well as United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the second quarter of 2017.
We will be reviewing the State of the Free State Population Report 2010, which was successfully launched in 2011. The State of the Free State Population Report is an essential tool that provides a complete demographic profile of the province as well as district profiles. The report seeks to publish key population concerns, challenges and opportunities. The document is in itself a significant tool which serves as an aid to assist policy makers, various government departments including our development partners to pay special attention to areas that require attention in the population. Such concerns and issues must then be integrated in all development plans in the three phases of government. This report will also be undertaken and completed in the second quarter of the year 2017.
For 2017/2018, the Department’s Equitable Share was reduced with 6 million (R6 636 000) from the initial baseline. Our Budget has increased with 2.4 percent, which is less than the CPI and ICS increases. In the Department we have five programmes and the budget allocated is based on these Programme as follows:
Programme 1: Administration is allocated 250 million rand (R250 997 000) Programme 2: Social Welfare Service is allocated 201 million rand (R201 333 000)
Programme 3: Children and Families is allocated 447 million rand (R447 079 000)
Programme 4: Restorative Services is allocated 131 million rand (R131 992 000)
Programme 5: Development and Research is allocated 140 million rand (R140 894 000)
The total budget of the Department for the 2017/18 financial year amounts to R1 billion 172 million and 2 hundred and 95 thousand rand (R1 172 295 000).
This allocation includes the Conditional Grants for Substance Abuse Treatment Grant at 14 million rand (R14 237 000), ECD Grant at 18 million rand (R18 398 000), Social Worker Employment Grant at 3 million rand (R3 252 000) and Social Sector EPWP Incentive Grant at 13 million rand (R13 823 000).
Conclusion
To conclude, we have set the track, for us what is left is, to run the actual race. But remember, this race is like a Relay, we cannot run it on our own, except if we do not want to reach the finishing line and want to fail. For this reason we call on our NGOs to continue partnering with us in rendering our services to the people. This is the reason we call on other government departments to continue partnering with us in rendering our services to the people. This is the reason we call on the Private sector to continue partnering with us in rendering our services to the people.
This is the reason we call on the Faith-based Organizations to continue partnering with us in rendering our services.
To our Organised Labour, our gratitude to you for not only protecting the rights of the workers but also being resourceful with advices for mutual benefit of working together between us and our officials.
Lastly but not least, this is the reason we call on other political parties to continue partnering with us in rendering our services to the people.
Remember, the call was made by OR Tambo to, I quote, “create a united Democratic and non-racial society. We have a vision of South Africa in which black and white shall live and work together as equals in conditions of peace and prosperity. Using the power you derive from the discovery of the truth about racism in South Africa, you will help us to remake our part of the world into a corner of the globe on which all -- of which all of humanity can be proud."
Let me send my greatest appreciation to the Honourable Premier and my colleagues in the Executive Council for displaying trust, companionship, compatriotism, comradeship, support and humility to me.
Also thank the HOD of the Department, Ms. Mokone Nthongoa, who is not just an HOD to me but also a “Mother” figure for her sterling work and welcoming me with open hands in the Department. This also goes to all the staff in the Department for your sterling performance and dedication.
I am convinced that I am one of the women who are blessed to have a loving, caring and supportive husband. To you, my Pillar of Strength, Dr. Kabelo Mahasa and our beautiful children, thank you for always making me to see the light even in the darkest of the shadows. You have stood by me and despite, my sometimes hectic and unbearable schedule, you are always understanding. Both my extended families, booMafokosi and le booMahasa, you are an inspiration to me, always available and willing to help when I need you the most.
Honourable Speaker, thanks to our NGO and FBO Sector in playing a significant role in assisting the government to realize its vision and mission. I appeal to you to keep on working with us, remember “to win the race you must be in the race”.
I thank you.
